In an escalating battle for talent, some firms are using internships and other programs to assist them in learning new technologies

PALO ALTO, Calif.—As tech firms compete in an escalating battle for talent, some are targeting what they consider an undervalued source: women returning to the workforce.

Companies including International Business Machines Corp., Google parent Alphabet Inc. and PayPal Holdings Inc., as well as smaller startups, are using internships and other programs to help women get back to work and up to speed on the latest technology they need to be competitive in the workplace.